Names That Mean Native

Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name, thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys too, inasfar as the name can work for any child. As a name, Hurricane is definitely original and attention-getting, but is it a name you'd want to carry around for life?

Although it looks and sounds like the Spanish name Paloma, meaning "dove," Poloma has Native American origins from the Choctaw tribe.

In Choctaw culture, new names were given after major life events. This would have been bestowed on a man following a hunting achievement.

The Choctaw name for their own tribe, occasionally bestowed as a given name.

In the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi and Oklahoma, Tassa was a traditional female name.

A fierce nature name which could give cool short form Nash.

Derived from the Choctaw elements tok, meaning "has" and abi, "killer."

Yancy has two separate American origins — first as the Native American term for "Yankee," and second as the Americanized variation of the common Dutch surname Jansen. Jan being the Dutch form of John, Yancy could work to honor anyone in your life with a John-related name.

In Choctaw culture, people could have multiple names over a lifetime. New names would be bestowed upon tribe members after major life events.

Carries a different meaning in American English. You may also like Sootima.

Leathery, masculine image, complete with user-friendly short form.

Among the Choctaw, names were given after life achievements. Tashka would have been given to a warrior after a battle.

This phonetic spelling of Quetzalli — a rare and lovely Nahuatl name, which literally means "quetzal feather" after the quetzal bird — was given to around the same number of baby girls as the original in 2022 (a few dozen).

A masculine name in Choctaw culture.

The creator god of the sky, wind, and knowledge in Aztec mythology, also associated with the morning star. In Mesoamerican myth Quetzalcoatl is also a mythical hero from whom almost all Mesoamerican peoples claim descent.

A name given among the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Malibu, the name of a California beach city, evokes sunshine, surfing, and glamour. With its fashionable "oo" sound — as seen in names like Luna and Ruby — Malibu is an unexplored place name worth considering.